Historic Langley

Circa 1910: Funk Mercantile

1912. Funk Mercantile (Courtesy Hilma Brown).

Frederick Funk and his family (shown here on the porch) came to Langley from Marysville, Washington around 1910 and ran a mercantile business located an Anthes Ave, between First and Second Streets. According to Ray Fossek, "Funk was a husky fella. He could take a barrel of kerosene and manhandle it."

Circa 1918. Funk Mercantile complex (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

As the first automobiles began appearing in Langley, Fred installed Langley's first gas pumps and underground tanks on the alley next to his Mercantile in May, 1915. In 1919, Elmer Clark remodeled Fred Funk's open shed into an auto repair shop and garage to be operated by a Mr. Stafford.

Circa 1926. Looking South along Anthes Avenue from First Street (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

Fred's brother Chris joined him and they ran a transfer company in the 1920's. The Mercantile building became headquarters for the Funk's "Whidby Island Transfer Company."

Fred served as Langley's mayor from 1929 to 1932. He died in 1936 and is buried in the Langley Cemetery.

Michael Andrew Seery next operated a cabinet shop in the former Funk Mercantile. A widower from Nebraska, Mike was living in Langley in 1930. Fran Johnson remembered, "One time, Noah ("Buck") Bucklew, who lived on First Street and worked for Puget Power and Light, was driving down McLeod Alley on the way to work and looked through the window of Seery's shop and saw Mike apparently hanging himself. He rushed in to investigate, and was relieved when Mike told him he was just trying to straighten a "crick in his neck."

1941: Norman Clyde Motors

1958. Nash Rambler in Norman Clyde Motors Showroom (Courtesy South Whidbey Historical Society).

Norman Clyde built a showroom for New and Used Cars replacing Seery's cabinet shop. He sold appliances and Nash automobiles.

1979: Spring Valley Press.

Scott Freutel opened the Spring Valley Press in the old Clyde Motor Showroom on Anthes Avenue in 1979. A small, white, "Spring Valley Press" sign can be seen behind the woman (left). It had a hot lead type printing press that Scott convinced a group of friends to help him move from Seattle. They produced many fine books as well as other posters, brochures, etc.

Circa 1981. Spring Valley Press in former Norman Clyde Motors behind Choochokam musicians Michael and David Licastro and Fred Dente (Courtesy Sue Scofield).

Spring Valley Press operated until 1985 when Scott's health forced him to close. Leonard Good took the large press and Lynn Hays moved several smaller presses and boxes of type down the street to the Porter Building where she operated Rockfish Press for several years.

Circa 1981. Inside the Spring Valley Press (Courtesy Marjorie Dente).

The woman knelling on the floor in the photo above is Lynn Willeford. To her right, standing, is Karran West. Lynn Hays is in front of the window. All were employees of Spring Valley Press.

2007. Whidbey Island Antiques (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

Ron and Marilyn Bunker rented the building from Don Dahlgren and opened Whidbey Island Antiques in the building in the 1980's. They had three locations on Anthes Avenue for a period of time.

2012: Langley Fine Fabrics and Antiques replaced the Bunkers' business.

2012. Langley Fine Fabrics & Antiques (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

2017: Whale Center

2018. Langley Whale Center (Courtesy Robert Waterman).

The Langley Whale Center moved into the building from their location across McLeod Alley in 2017.